Begonia plant named Ninon

ABSTRACT

A slow growing vigorous hybrid begonia named Ninon having very large peach/pink colored flowers, often with several whorls of tepals in the center, and excellent keeping qualities in all seasons.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia hiemalis (Fotsch), and known by thecultivar name Ninon.

The new cultivar was discovered by me as a seedling from a controlledcrossing of my tuberous seedling P-156 as the seed parent with begoniaSocotrana as the pollen parent. Asexual reproduction by stem cuttingshas reproduced the unique features of the new cultivar throughsuccessive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish the new begonia from both itsparents and other begonias commercially known and used in thefloriculture industry:

1. The foliage of Ninon lacks the pubescence of the tuberous parent. Theplant is more compact, vigorous, and strong upright growth than P-156.

2. Whereas the pollen parent has small pink single type flowers, lightfoliage, and a general weak appearance, Ninon has very large compoundcamellia type flowers upwards to 6-7 cm. in diameter and a peach/pinkflower color. Also, Ninon is a vigorous grower with dark green largefoliage.

3. Flower color is a brighter, more vivid shade of peach, and has largerflowers than Harmony (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,742). The foliage of Ninonis darker and larger than that of Harmony.

4. Many flowers are compound having several whorls of interior petals.In the illustration, the larger flower in the right hand group has foursuch whorls.

5. The flower color is distinct for this type of begonia.

6. The flower size approaches that of large flowering tuberous types.However, the weight and size of the flower does not cause flower drop asin many tuberous types.

7. The flower keeping quality is similar to that of Barbara, disclosedand claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 420,498, filed Sept.20, 1982. As in Barbara, the flower color retention is very good withlittle fading, and individual flowers will remain in flower for severalweeks. 8. Ninon is difficult to propagate by leaf cuttings and isgenerally propagated by top or stem cuttings.

9. Growth would be considered slow but this disadvantage is more thanoffset by the superior flower color, flower size, and keeping qualities.

The accompanying colored photograph taken March 1982 illustrates inperspective view the overall appearance of Ninon grown in a 25 cm.hanging basket, and shows the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in a colored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of my new begonia cultivar basedon plants produced under commercial practices in Odense, Denmark andAshtabula, Ohio. Color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

PARENTAGE

A controlled cross of begonia tuberous hybrida P-156 and begoniaSocotrana.

PROPAGATION

Type of cutting: Stem.

Time to root to planting: 24-30 Days at 21° C. summer; 35-40 days at 21°C. winter.

Rooting habit: Quite uniform, dendritic, and fibrous.

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Form: Extremely short, vigorous, compact growth. Stem cutting must betip pinched to force out lateral growth for maximum display; herbaceous.

Habit of growth: Upright, somewhat slow, needs to be pinched to forcebranching, needs extra time to fill out for maximum display.

Foliage: Simple, opposite; firm to crisp; large, necessitating leafpruning.

(1) Size.--Leaf size can be quite variable on this cultivar depending ongrowing practices and environment; from 5-6 cm. up to 15 cm.

(2) Shape.--Generally ovate, overlapping basal lobes.

(3) Texture.--Topside glabrous, underside rucose.

(4) Margin.--Crenate.

(5) Color.--Young foliage top side, yellow green 146A-B, red margin;underside greyed red 180B with green veins; mature foliage top side,nearly green 139A; underside 147C with slight red infusion.

(6) Venation.--Palmate.

FLOWERING DESCRIPTION

Flowering habits: Will flower with ease in autumn, winter and spring.Summer flowering occurs best with controlled daylength and use of growthregulators. Flowers presented in raceme.

Natural flowering season: Mid-October through May. Indeterminent for daylength, but reduced light energy needed to develop uniform flowering insummer.

Flower bud description: Flat and oval to nearly round.

Flowers borne: On raceme with progressive flowering over a considerableperiod of time; flower peduncles and pedicels are short, thick, andsturdy.

Quantity: Not highly floriferous but large compound flowers up to 6-7cm. in diameter offset this characteristic.

Tepals:

(1) Shape.--Oval to round with basal tepals having frilled edges.

(2) Color.--Top side in winter when just opening, red 39-B to darkerthan red 38A when expanded, with very little fading at anytime;underside near 38A-B.

(3) Number of tepals.--From 16 to 30 or more on compound flowers.

(4) Size of tepals.--Basal tepals up to 3 cm.; interiors 1.5-2 cm.

(5) Flower size.--Up to 6-7 cm. in diameter.

Reproductive organs: Sterile, triploid, hybrid.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of begonia named Ninon, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by its vigorous growth habit; large dark green foliage; large flowers which frequently are compound with several whorls of interior petals; distinct peach/pink flower color, and its excellent keeping qualities. 